My wife and I stopped by Hey Sugar last night with our kids so we could try out the new candy shop and ice cream parlor on Austin Avenue, and it didn't disappoint. They offer a huge assortment of candy, retro sodas, popcorn, gourmet chocolate and old fashioned ice cream. There's enough sugar in the store to give you a contact sugar high just from entering.
I stopped by this morning to talk with Hey Sugar's general manager, Ashley Majors, about the shop, its history, and what they are bringing to downtown Waco. The Waco location is the store's second location with the first located in Roanoke, TX, which was dubbed by the Texas House of Representatives as "The Unique Dining Capital of Texas". With its combination of candy shop and ice cream parlor, Hey Sugar is certainly brining a unique dining experience to Waco.
Just to give you an idea of what they have to offer, they have their own version of Taco Tuesday, but instead of a traditional taco, they have a waffle taco filled with your choice of ice cream and covered in sprinkles. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, they boast a sugar-coma-inducing donut sandwich, which consists of a glazed or chocolate donut split in half and filled with your choice of ice cream, whipped cream to fill the donut hole, and a chocolate drizzle and (of course) sprinkles.
Your kids can get the full candy shop experience for their birthdays with a Hey Sugar birthday party. For $300, you get a 1-hour party for 11 children that includes a retro soda for each child, sugar cookie decorating, and each child's choice of ice cream. Oh, and each kid gets to take home a bag of their choice of candies. Forget the kids. I might just have my next birthday party there.
What's most interesting is how Hey Sugar got its start. The store in Roanoke started 3 years ago, but Hey Sugar started 6 years ago when owner Kristin Brittan's 10-year-old son, Clayton, didn't want to go to a horse show with his family. To convince him to go, Kristin came up with the idea of attending the show as a vendor. They bought an Airstream trailer that was already outfitted as a food truck, added some paint and shelving, and stocked it with shelving. The Airstream was a huge success, which led Brittan to pursue the candy shop business further.
Ironically, Clayton is severely allergic to dairy, nuts, and fish, so he can't really help out in the store, but the 16-year-old entrepreneur helps out behind the scenes. Because of Clayton's food allergies, Hey Sugar was the first store in Roanoke to offer vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free ice cream, which was the first time Clayton was able to actually eat ice cream. If you are interested in this option for yourself or your children, let them know and they'll figure out how to get it to the Waco shop.
Hey Sugar is all about customer service and providing a great experience for everyone who walks through the door. Whether you're a young child or a 99-year-old grandmother, you'll have a great time making memories with your family at Hey Sugar. When you stop by, tell them WacoFork sent you.
